Removable cover for paint container rim

ABSTRACT

An attachable and detachable annular collar-like compressibly resilient plastic cover for temporary use atop the circumferentially grooved lid supporting lip or rim commonly present on the upper openable end of a paint containing can. The lower inner and outer peripheral portions of the cover have inwardly directed circumferential portions for snap engagement over the usual inner and outer rim beads of the can rim and the cover assembly seats atop the rim in reasonably good fluid-tight sealed engagement therewith. The cover includes conical inwardly and downwardly sloping top surfaces which cause surplus paint to gravitate back into the can and a narrow smooth inner peripheral surface is fashioned into and provides an efficient brush scraping edge. Diametrically opposite generally radial recesses are formed in the top surface of the cover to provide paint returning notches and the cover further includes encircling outer grooves located at the juncture of the outer and top surfaces of the cover to provide an effective drip catcher communicatively cooperable with the paint return notches. Also, diametrically opposite upper surface portions of the cover disposed between and spaced from the notches are selectively usable for pouring paint from the associated paint containing can.

United States Patent [1 1 Higgins [11] 3,811,606 [451 May 21, 1974 1REMOVABLE COVER FOR PAINT CONTAINER RIM [76] Inventor: Jerome C.Higgins, 3139 E.

Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85016 [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 [21] Appl.No: 214,291

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.79,170, Oct. 8,

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 222/570 [51] Int. Cl B65171 5/74 [58] Field of Search222/570, 571, 424, 109,

' ZZZ/318,567, 569, 109

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,307,752 3/1967 Anderson222/569 X 2,960,257 11/1960 Sasse 222/570 X 1,165,787 12/1915 Lance222/109 3,372,832 3/1968 Yeater et a1. 222/570 X 2,793,790 5/1957 Kahler222/109 3,356,266 12/1967 Pinter, Jr. 222/569 X 3,309,000 3/1967 Haverstick, 222/569 3,499,825 3/1970 Falcone et a1. 195/139 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson 57 ABSTRACT Anattachable and detachable annular collar-like compressibly resilientplastic cover for temporary use atop the circumferentially grooved lidsupporting lip or rim commonly present on the upper openable end of apaint containing canflhe lower inner and outer peripheral portions ofthe cover have inwardly directed circumferential portions for snapengagement over the usual inner and outer rim beads of the can rim andthe cover assembly seats atop the rim in reasonably good fluid-tightsealed engagement therewith. The cover includes conical inwardly anddownwardly sloping top surfaces which cause surplus paint to gravitateback into the can and a narrow smooth inner peripheral surface isfashioned into and provides an efficient brush scraping edge.Diametrically opposite generally radial recesses are formed in the topsurface of the cover to provide paint returning notches and the coverfurther includes encircling outer grooves located at the juncture of theouter and top surfaces of the cover to provide an effective drip catchercommunicatively cooperable with the paint return notches. Also,diametrically opposite upper surface portions of the cover disposedbetween and spaced from the notches are selectively usable for pouringpaint from the associated paint containing can.

I 6 Claims, Drawing F igure s fATENTEDMY 21 I974 3 81 1, 6 06 RimsStacked REMOVABLE COVER FOR PAINT CONTAINER RIM This. applicationcomprises a continuation-in-part of my co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 79,170 for REMOVABLE COVER FOR PAINT CONTAINER RIM, filed Oct. 8,1970, now abandoned.

This invention relates to readily applicable and removable paint canattachments such as are designed and adapted to temporarily span andprotectively cover the circumferentially grooved lip-like flange or rimwhich is commonly provided on currently marketed paint containing cansand has to do, more particularly, with a simple, practical one pieceplastic ring-like cover which stations and effectually seals itself inits given position and features significant self-contained improvements.

More particularly, the cover herein disclosed is such in constructionand capability that it lends itself to acceptably feasible use onvarying sizes of paint cans such as 4 m6 fluid once cans, pints, quarts,half-gallons, gallons. and so on. It is also such in contouredconfiguration that it can be molded in one piece and, since it isappropriately resistant to commonly used paints, it is destined for longand acceptably serviceable use b professionals and amateurs.

For background purposes, it may well be pointed out here that it iscommon in the art to provide ring-like covers which can be brought intouse after the can lid has been pried off and which when applied servesto protectively overlie and shield the grooved lip or flange of a paintcontaining can whereby the lid of the can can be replaced andsubsequently removed without difficulty. A simple channel-shaped coveris shown, for example, in a patent of Alfred E. Hendershot, U.S. Pat.No. 2,903,154. A similar removable lip for paint containers whichfeatures a pouring spout is shown in a patent issued to Joseph Pinter..Ir., U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,266. These two reference patents areindicative, generally stated, of the state of the art to which theinstant invention relates.

An object of the invention, broadly stated, is toimprove upon theaforementioned prior patents and, in so doing, to advance the art and toprovide what is thought to be an innovation and which is such inconstruction and appropriateness that it will appeal to manufacturers,retailers, painters and other users in that it well serves the purposesfor which it has been devised and effectually used.

Briefly, the attachment is characterized as a rim cover and comprises anendless or annular collar. This collar is designed and adapted to alignitself with and protectively overlie the vulnerable surfaces of theaforementioned rim. It is ring-like in plan and embodies an annular bodyportion which is of a transverse crosssectional dimension greater thanthe width of the rim with which it is to be cooperatively associated. Ithas a top surface. inner and outer annular peripheral surfaces. and anunderside. A major portion of the underside defines a downwardly openingannular recess defined between inner and outer peripherally extendingdepending skirt or wall portions and these skirt or wall reinforcingbeads of the annular can rim and thus the collar may be snap engaged inposition to wholly overlie all of the upper surfaces of the associatedannular can rim.

The collar is preferably molded from one piece of compressibly resilientplastic or equivalent material. The conical top surface is suitablyinclined and slopes inwardly and downwardly in a manner to causeoverflow or surplus paint to flow by gravity back into the containerportion of the can and thus be retrieved. The top surface of the collaris provided with diametrically opposite paint return notches andinbetween diametrically opposite surface portions of the collar definepouring areas over which paint may be poured from the associated paintcontainer into a bucket or tray, as the case may be.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint container rimcover in accordance with the preceding object and which may be readilyconstructed of various sizes for use in conjunction with various sizepaint containers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an annular coverfor the annular rim of a paint'container which will not only prevent thelid retaining groove of the rim ofthe paint container from having paintdrippings collected therein but which will also serve to facilitate thepouring of paint from the associated paint container and further preventthe dripping of paint downwardly along the outer surfaces of theassociated paint container.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a paint can rim cover in accordance with the precedingobjects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction, and easy to use, so as to provide a device thatwill be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-freein operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had portions are downwardly divergent whereby a plurality of theannular collars may be stacked for compact shipment and storage. Thelower marginal edge portions of the skirts or wall portions includeinwardly directed portions for snap engagement with the inner and outerto the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the paint container rim coverof the instant invention in position on the top of a conventional formof paint container with the cover in position overlying the rim of thecontainer;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. I;and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a plurality of the covers disposedin stacked relation for compact storage and/or shipment.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 12generally designates a conventional form of paint container including anupper end annular rim referred to in general by the reference numeral14. The rim 14 includes anouter peripheral bead l6 joining the outerperiphery of the rim 14 to the upper marginal edge of the side walls 18of the container 12 and an inner peripheral reinforcing bead 20. The riml4 further defines an annular upwardly opening groove 22 in which toreceive a cooperable rim carried by a conventional container lid (notshown) with the lid rib frictionally received within the groove 22 inorder to tightly close the upper end of the container 12.

The foregoing comprises a description of a conventional form of paintcontainer and its associated lid.

The cover of the instant invention is referred to in general byreference numeral 26 and defines an annular body 28 which is generallyinverted U-shaped in cross-section throughout most of itscircumferential extent. The body 28 includes an inner downwardly andinwardly inclined wall or skirt 30 and an upstanding downwardly andoutwardly inclined wall or skirt 32 with the upper marginal portions ofthe walls 30 and 32 being joined together. The wall 30 is substantiallyinverted truncated cone-shaped in configuration and includes a furtherinwardly inclined lower marginal portion 34 terminating downwardly in adownwardly and outwardly inclined truncated cone-shaped wall portion 36.The lower periphery of the wall portion 36 terminates in an upwardlydirected generally cylindrical reinforcing flange 38.

The lower marginal portion of the wall or skirt 32 includes a radiallyoutwardly extending annular horizontal wall 40 which in turn terminatesradially outwardly in a downwardly directed cylindrical flange 42 whichterminates at its lower end in a reversely bent cylindrical portion 44.

From FIG. 2 of the drawings, it may, therefore, be seen that theportions 38 and 44 of the body 28 may be snap engaged over the beads 20and 16 of the rim 14 in order to secure the body over the rim 14 in amanner fully enclosing all upper surfaces of the rim l4 and thusprecluding any possibility of any paint collecting in the groove 22 tosubsequently interfere with'the replacement of the conventional lid (notshown) of the container 12.

Rather than having the upper marginal portions of the walls or skirts 30and 32 joined along a peripherally extending apex corner, the body 28includes a peripherally extending gutter 46 which opens upwardly andoutwardly and includes diametrically opposed low points 48 anddiametrically opposite high points 50 with the diameters of the body 28along which the points 48 and 50 lie being disposed at generally rightangles relative to each other.

The gutter or channel 46 is defined by an upstanding wall portion 52which is slightly downwardly and outwardly inclined and extendsdownwardly from the upper periphery of the inner wall or skirt 30 andthe wall portion 52 coacts with a generally annular slightly downwardlyand inwardly inclined wall portion 54. The wall portion 54 extends fromthe upper marginal portion of the outer wall or skirt 32 to the lowermarginal portion of the wall portion 52. However, as hereinbefore setforth. the gutter or channel 46 includes diametrically opposite highpoints 50 and diametrically low points 48.

The wall portions 52 and the wall or skirt 32 are inclined approximatelyrelative to the vertical in order to enable a plurality of the bodies 28to be disposed in closely stacked relation in the manner illustrated inFIG. 4 of the drawings thereby enabling the covers 26 to be compactlystored and shipped.

The upwardly projecting ridge portion of the body 28 defined above thehorizontal annular wall 40 is interrupted at diametrically oppositepoints disposed on the same diameter of the body 28 containing the lowpoints 48. in these areas, return channels 56 are defined with eachreturn channel 56 being disposed between circumferentially spaced endpanels 58 of the aforementioned ridge and in the areas of the returnchannels 56 disposed between the end wall or panels 58 the lowermarginal portion 36 includes upward and outward extensions 60 formingthe bottom walls of the return channels 56 which merge into the adjacentlow points of the wall portion 54. It will also be noted that the endwalls 58 converge downwardly so as to further facilitate stacking of thebodies 28.

In operation, after the conventional lid for the container 12 has beenremoved, the removable cover is applied over the rim 14 in the mannerhereinbefore previously set forth. Then, a painter may dip his paintbrush in the container to apply paint to the bristles of his brush andthe apex edge at the juncture of the lower marginal portion 34 and wallportion 36 may be utilized to wipe excess paint from the brush bristles.If, during this wiping process, any paint is wiped off on the wall orskirt 30, such excess paint will flow by gravity downwardly along thewall or skirt 30 and back into the container. Further, if any paintflows over the apex edge defined between the upper marginal portion ofthe wall or skirt 30 and the wall portion 52, such paint will flowdownwardly along the outer surfaces of the wall portions 52 and into thegutter or channel 46 for subsequent draining by gravity along the gutteror channel 46 toward an adjacent low portions 48 thereof which definesthe upper extremity of the bottom wall 60 of the return channel 56 towhich such paint may flow back into the container 12.

When it is desired to pour paint from the container 12, paint is pouredover the cover 26 in the areas thereof defined by the arrows 64 in FIG.1 and any paint which tends to drip downwardly over the wall portion 52after the pouring operation has been terminated will also flowbackwardly through the gutter or channel 46 and an associated returnchannel 56 into the container 12.

In order to facilitate removal of the cover 26,'a window 66 (see FIG. 1)is formed in one lower outer peripheral portion of the cover 26 in orderto expose the bead 16 in order that a suitable implement, such as ascrewdriver shank, or the like, may be utilized to pry the cover 26 fromthe bead 16.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shownanddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use atop and in conjunction with an annular circumferentiallygrooved lid supporting and keying rim at the upper openable and closableend of a conventional paint containing can: a readily attachable anddetachable rim cover comprising an endless collar designed and adaptedto align with and protectively overlie said rim. said collar embodyingan annular body portion of generally inverted U-shaped cross-section andof a transverse cross-sectional dimension greater than the width of saidrim and having an underside, a top surface and inner and outerperipheral surfaces, said underside being releasably frictionallyengaged over said rim, said top surface including an inner peripheralportion inclined and sloped inwardly and downwardly to cause loose paintthereon to flow by gravity into the container portion of the can and bethus retrieved, said top surface further including an outer peripheralportion defining a peripheral upwardly and outwardly opening paintretaining groove including a bottom wall inclined inwardly anddownwardly, said top surface further being provided with peripherallyspaced generally diametrically opposite radially extending inwardly anddownwardly inclined recesses which open upwardly through said inclinedtop surface inner peripheral portion and are communicated at their outerand inner ends with the lowest portions of said groove and lowerportions of said innerperipheral portion whereby to provide paint returnmeans from said groove, said inclined inner peripheral portion of saidtop surface, except for said recesses, extending fully about said rimcover. I

2. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid groove includes diametricallyopposite elevated portions, said groove being downwardly inclined, inboth directions, from each of said elevated portions toward the portionsof said groove into which the outer ends of said recesses open.

3. For use atop and in conjunction with an annular circumferentiallygrooved lid supporting and keying rim at the upper openable and closableend of a conventional paint containing can: a readily attachable anddetachable rim cover comprising an annular collar including undersurfaceportions for embracingly engaging and snap-fit engagement over the innerand outer peripheral portions of the rim in at least reasonably goodfluid-tight sealed engagement therewith, said collar including uppersurface portions defining an upwardly opening inverted generallytruncated coneshaped gravity flow return surface and a pair of generallydiametrically opposite and radially extending return channels openingupwardly through said return surface, said channels being inwardly anddownwardly inclined, said upper surface portions further defining a pairof peripherally extending upwardly opening outer gutters extending aboutthe periphery of said'collar outwardly of said return'surface, each ofsaid gutters including a mid-portion and opposite end portions with themid-portions of said. gutters disposed immediately outwardly ofgenerally diametrically opposite portions of saidreturn surfacecentrally intermediate said channels, said mid-portions of said guttersbeing elevated relative to the opposite ends of said gutters and spacedslightly below the adjacent upper and radial outermost portions of saiddiametrically opposite portions of saidreturn surface, said gutters eachbeing slightly downwardly inclined from the mid-portion thereof towardthe opposite ends thereof, adjacent opposite ends or said guttersmerging into the outermost extremities of said channels from oppositesides thereof for gravity flow of liquids from the opposite ends of saidgutters into the outermost extremities ofsaid channels, the radialoutermost portions of said diametrically opposite portions of saidcone-shaped gravity flow return surface registered with said elevatedgutter mid-portions defining pour areas over which liquid paint withinan associated can may be poured, the opposite inclination of the endportions or each gutter disposed on opposite sides of the mid-portionthereof enabling any paint tending to run down the exterior of said rimcover, adjacent one of said pour areas after a pouring operation, to becollected and divided into two separate flow paths flowing toward theopposite ends of the corresponding gutter and the return channelscommunicated there with.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the under surface portions and theupper surface portions of said body are so constructed and inclined soas to enable a plurality of said annular bodies to be vertically stackedin at least partially nested relation.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said undersurface portions definedepending inner and outer peripheral portions defining a downwardlyopening annular recess for receiving the rim of the associated cantherein.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said undersurface outer peripheralportion comprises a depending cylindrical flange terminating downwardlyin a reversely bent upwardly directed cylindrical portion and the innerperipheral portion of said undersurface portion comprises a downwardlyand outwardly inclined wall portion terminating downwardly in anupwardly directed generally cylindrical flange.

1. For use atop and in conjunction with an annular circumferentially grooved lid supporting and keying rim at the upper openable and closable end of a conventional paint containing can: a readily attachable and detachable rim cover comprising an endless collar designed and adapted to align with and protectively overlie said rim, said collar embodying an annular body portion of generally inverted U-shaped cross-section and of a transverse cross-sectional dimension greater than the width of said rim and having an underside, a top surface and inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said underside being releasably frictionally engaged over said rim, said top surface including an inner peripheral portion inclined and sloped inwardly and downwardly to cause loose paint thereon to flow by gravity into the container portion of the can and be thus retrieved, said top surface further including an outer peripheral portion defining a peripheral upwardly and outwardly opening paint retaining groove including a bottom wall Inclined inwardly and downwardly, said top surface further being provided with peripherally spaced generally diametrically opposite radially extending inwardly and downwardly inclined recesses which open upwardly through said inclined top surface inner peripheral portion and are communicated at their outer and inner ends with the lowest portions of said groove and lower portions of said inner peripheral portion whereby to provide paint return means from said groove, said inclined inner peripheral portion of said top surface, except for said recesses, extending fully about said rim cover.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said groove includes diametrically opposite elevated portions, said groove being downwardly inclined, in both directions, from each of said elevated portions toward the portions of said groove into which the outer ends of said recesses open.
 3. For use atop and in conjunction with an annular circumferentially grooved lid supporting and keying rim at the upper openable and closable end of a conventional paint containing can: a readily attachable and detachable rim cover comprising an annular collar including undersurface portions for embracingly engaging and snap-fit engagement over the inner and outer peripheral portions of the rim in at least reasonably good fluid-tight sealed engagement therewith, said collar including upper surface portions defining an upwardly opening inverted generally truncated cone-shaped gravity flow return surface and a pair of generally diametrically opposite and radially extending return channels opening upwardly through said return surface, said channels being inwardly and downwardly inclined, said upper surface portions further defining a pair of peripherally extending upwardly opening outer gutters extending about the periphery of said collar outwardly of said return surface, each of said gutters including a mid-portion and opposite end portions with the mid-portions of said gutters disposed immediately outwardly of generally diametrically opposite portions of said return surface centrally intermediate said channels, said mid-portions of said gutters being elevated relative to the opposite ends of said gutters and spaced slightly below the adjacent upper and radial outermost portions of said diametrically opposite portions of said return surface, said gutters each being slightly downwardly inclined from the mid-portion thereof toward the opposite ends thereof, adjacent opposite ends or said gutters merging into the outermost extremities of said channels from opposite sides thereof for gravity flow of liquids from the opposite ends of said gutters into the outermost extremities of said channels, the radial outermost portions of said diametrically opposite portions of said cone-shaped gravity flow return surface registered with said elevated gutter mid-portions defining pour areas over which liquid paint within an associated can may be poured, the opposite inclination of the end portions or each gutter disposed on opposite sides of the mid-portion thereof enabling any paint tending to run down the exterior of said rim cover, adjacent one of said pour areas after a pouring operation, to be collected and divided into two separate flow paths flowing toward the opposite ends of the corresponding gutter and the return channels communicated therewith.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the under surface portions and the upper surface portions of said body are so constructed and inclined so as to enable a plurality of said annular bodies to be vertically stacked in at least partially nested relation.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said undersurface portions define depending inner and outer peripheral portions defining a downwardly opening annular recess for receiving the rim of the associated can therein.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said undersurface outer peripheral portion comprises a depending cylindrical flange terminating downwardly in a reversely bent upwardly directed cylindrical portion and the inNer peripheral portion of said undersurface portion comprises a downwardly and outwardly inclined wall portion terminating downwardly in an upwardly directed generally cylindrical flange. 